Collapsible container



Nov, 36, 3%. H. A. JOHNSON 9 9 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Oct. 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l my, 30, 194. HA. JOHNSON 9 COLLARSIBLE conmmma Filed Oct. 15, 1345 2 Sheets-Shem. 2

Patented Nov. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orncs 2,455,124 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Henry A. Johnson, Kansas City, Mo. Application October 15, 1945, Serial No. 622.444 2 Claims. (Ci. 229-3'l) This invention relates to collapsible paperboard cartons or boxes. More particularly, this invention relates to a collapsible paperboard carton or box of the character which is especially adapted for use in packaging materials which are deposited in liquid or semi-liquid condition within the carton or box and allowed to solidify therein as by cooling or freezing. Thus, for example, the present invention may be employed in packaging asphalt, rosin, battery case compound, and like compositions or materials which may be poured into or deposited in the package in a hot liquid or semi-liquid condition and are allowed to cool and solidify therein. However, the present invention is also-adapted for use in packaging other commodities including food products such, for example, as ice cream and the like which may be inserted into the carton or box in a liquid or semi-liquid condition and solidified by freezing therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved collapsible paperboard carton or box which may be used for the packaging of materials such, for example, as asphalt, rosin, battery case compound, or other compositions or materials which may be poured or deposited in the package in a liquid or semi-liquid condition and allowed to cool and thus harden or solidify.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved collapsible paper board carton which may be used for the purpose of pack aging food products, such for example, as ice cream and the like which may be deposited therein in a liquid or semi-liquid condition and solidified by freezing.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the new collapsible paperboard carton a novel and emcient bottom wall construction or closure which effectively prevents leakage of the liquid or semi-liquid contents from the new carton or container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel sealing andreinforcing web in the bottom closure construction of the new collapsible carton or container and for efiecting a liquidtight seal along the bottom edges and corners.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel sealing and reinforcing flap in the new bottom wall construction for efiecting a liquidtight seal at the bottom edge of the side wall attaching .flap.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the followingdescription and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical form of the new paperboard carton or box in erected and sealed -condition;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view on line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical form of the new collapsible paperboard carton showing the new bottom closure construction embodied therein in a partially closed position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the bottom closure construction in a further partially closed position,

relative to the position in which the parts of the bottom closure are shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional top plan view on line 5-5 in Fig. 1 showing the bottom wall closure construction which is embodied in the new collapsible paperboard carton or box;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view illustrating the construction of the side walls andthe construction of the bottom wall closure or sealing construction which is embodied in the new collapsible paperboard carton or box;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the new collapsible paperboard carton or box is.

made, part of same being broken away to reveal the construction of the material employed therein;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 on Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a sectional detail vi-ew showing a portion of the bottom wall sealing and closure construction embodied in the new carton or container and also showing a part of the side wall construction andthe manner in which the new carton is provided with a liquid tight seal at the lower end of the side wall attaching flap;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective detail view illustrating the construction of a sealing web embodied in the collapsible paperboard package and of the bellows-fold corners embodied therein.

A blank from which the new collapsible paperboard carton or box may be made is shown in Fig. 7 wherein it is generally indicated at l0 and comprises four main side wall sections Ii, l2, l3 and 14 which are interconnected along fold lines I5, 16 and I1, respectively. The side wall construction of the new collapsible paperboard carton or box also includes an additional side attaching flap 18 which is integrally connected to the side wall section Ii along fold line 13.

The new collapsible paperboard carton may also include a suitable cover or top closure which may be composed of flaps or sections 20, 21, 22. and 23 and these cover flaps or sections 20 to 23, inclusive, are interconnected to the side wall sections ii, l2, l3 and 14, respectively, along a fold line 24.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the side wall sections ll, l2, l3 and i4, and the side wall attaching flap 18, are each composed of an inner liner 3| of corrugated cardboard or paperboard and inner and outer paper liners 38 and 39, respectively, adhesively secured thereto and laminated thereon. The inner liner 38 may be provided on its inner surface with a coating 40 of suitable coating material which is resistant to the action of moisture as well as to the action of various materials which may be packaged in the new collapsible carton or box including asphalt, rosin, battery compounds, food products, etc. Such a coating forms the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 585,391, filed March 28, 1945, now Patent No. 2,451,362, October 12, 1948.

The new collapsible paperboard package also includes a bottom sealing closure which includes four bottom closure or sealing flap sections 25. 2-6, 21, 28 which are integrally connected'along a fold line 29 to the side wall sections ll, 12, I3

and 14, respectively. The bottom wall closure and sealing flap 30 is integrally connected along the fold line 29 to the side wall attaching flap or section 18. A fold line 44 is formed in the outer paper liner 39 in alignment with and opposite the fold line 29 in the inner liner 38 (Fig. 8), and a similar fold line 46 is formed in the outer liner 39 opposite the fold line 24.

The bottom wall closure and sealing construction which is embodied in the new collapsible paperboard carton or container includes a sealing web 32 which is formed as a relatively narrow but integral extension of the inner liner 38 01' the side wall sections ll, l2, l3 and I4 and of the attaching flap 18 (Fig. 7). This sealing web 32 is composed of four sections 33, 34, 35 and 38 which are integrally connected to each other and' which are integrally connected to the sidewall sections 11,12,13 and I4, respectively, as shown in Fig. '1. In addition the sealing web 32 includes a fifth section 41 which is formed as an extension of the inner liner 38 of the attaching flap 13 (Fig- '7).

In the practice of the present invention the side wall sections Ii, 12, i3 and 14 may be assembled into erected or upright condition with the side wall attaching flap or section'l8 and the section 4| 0! the sealing web 32 extending over 1 a portion of the outer side of the sidewall section I flap or section 23. The manner in whichthe forces the bottom wall sealing and closure conclosing of the bottom wall closure flaps 25, 28, 21, 28 and 33 is efiected is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Thus it will be noted that the bottom closure flap or section 25 is first folded into closed position, across the bottom opening of the box between thefour side walls thereof. During this operation the bottom closure flap 25 pivots along the fold line 44 (Figs. 3 and 8) and the section 33 of the sealing web 32 folds inwardly along the fold line 29. The opposite bottom closure flap or section 21 is then folded over the bottom closure flap 25. During this operation the bottom closure ilap or section 21 folds along the fold line 44 and thefsection 35 of the sealing web 32 folds inwardly along the fold line 29. The bottom closure fia'p 2B is then folded over the bottom closure flap 21 and the closure and sealing flap 33 is then extended over the bottom closure flap 23, as shown in Fig. 4. The bottom closure and sealing construction is then completed by folding the bottom closure flap 26 over the bottom closure flaps 33 and 28. During this operation the bottom closure flap 26 is folded along the fold line 44 and the section 34 of the sealing web 32 folds inwardly along the fold line 29. The infolding of the sealing web 32 along the fold line 23, during the operation of closing the bottom wall construction, as hereinbefore described, causes the sealing web 32 to form bellows fold corners 45 at the four corners of the assembled carton or container, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 10. During this latter operation the bottom closure flaps 23 and 30 fold inwardly along the fold line 44 and the sections 36 and 41 of the sealing web 32 fold inwardly along the fold line 29. The relative positions in which these parts then appear in the closed position of the bottom wall are shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6.

The thus assembled bottom wall closure and sealing construe-tion may then be secured in place by means of suitable stapling or other fastening means.

It will thus be found that the bottom wall construction provides an effective seal for the liquid or semi-fluid contents of the new carton or container which may be thereupon poured or deposited into the thus erected carton through the open upper end thereof, when the carton is arranged in upright position, whereupon the top closure flaps 20 to 23, inclusive, may be folded along the fold line 24 over the upper end of the carton and secured into position in any suitable manner to complete the top closure of the box or carton.

It will be noted that the relatively narrow sealing web portion 32 of the bottom closure extends around the marginal edges of, and above, the bottom wall flaps 30, 25, 28, 21 and 2B of the new carton or container when the bottom wall closure and sealing construction is in closed position, as Figs. 5 and 6. Thus by'reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 10 it will be seen that the sealing web 32 forms an effective liquid-tight seal and,

reinforcing web which eiiectively seals and reinstruction along the lower ends and at the inside bellows fold corners 45, as may be seen by reference to Figs. 5, 6 audit), thecontents of th carton being indicated at 42 in Fig. 6.

Moreover, by reference to Fig. 9 it will also be .noted that the flap 30,-which is formed as an extension "of the outerliner '39, not only assists in reinforcing the bottom wall or closure of the new carton, but also. forms an eiiective liquidtight seal at the lower end of the side wall attaching flap or section l8 and between the latter and the bottom wall section or flap 28 under whichthe sealing flap 30 is extended in the assembled or closed position of the bottom wall closure construction, as shown in Fig. 4.

At the same time the sealing and-reinforcing flap 38 when in effective position serves to draw the section 4| of the sealing web 32 into liquidtight sealing engagement with the side wall section M to which it is attached and thus provides an effective liquid-tight seal at this point. It will be noted, in this connection, that the section 4| of the sealing and reinforcing web 32 lies between the side wall section It and the innerv liner 39 of the attaching flap l8 when the new carton is assembled and that the sealing and reinforcing flap 30 is formed as an extension or continuation of the outer liner 39 of the attaching flap 38. Likewise, the section 4| of the sealing and reinforcing web 32 .is formed as a continuation of the inner liner of the attaching flap l8. As shown in Fig. 7, the inner corrugated reinforcing 3i terminates at the top of the side wall sections H, l2, I3 and M.

It will be noted that there are no slits between the four component-parts 4|33-34--3536 of the. sealing web 32 and that the free edge 43 of this sealing web 32 extends a considerable distance below the bottom edges of the side walls ll, l2, I3 and i4 and of the attaching flap l8 (Fig. 7). The slits between the bottom wall sections or flaps 25, 26, .21, 28 and the sealing and reinforcing section or flap 30 terminate adjacent the free marginal edge 43 of the sealing web 32, which marginal edge "43 is parallel to the fold line 29. Moreover, it will be noted that the sealing web 32 is a continuous strip from end to end and is not slit between the parts 4i33 34-45-36 thereof and by reason of this fact it afiords a liquidtight seal when the carton is erected and the sealing strip 32 is folded at the corners of the carton, as in Fig. 5.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in coniunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a novel collapsible liquidtight or sealed paperboard carton or box having the desirable advantages and characteristics, and accomplishes its intended objects, including those hereinabove pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim: I

1. A collapsible paper carton provided with fold lines defining side walls and ,closure flaps and including outer side walls having integral foldable closure flaps, which closure flaps are defined by slits terminating in spaced relation to the fold line for the closure flaps, an inner lining substantially coextensive with the outer-side walls and an intermediate ply coextensive only with the side walls and to which intermediate ply the outer side walls and the lining are adhesively secured,

a sealing web integral with the inner lining and spacedly overlapping portions of the closure flaps throughout its length, the free marginal edge of said sealing web being adjacent the terminal ends of the slits between the closure flaps and parallel to the fold line for the closure flaps so that when the closure flaps are folded upon each other the sealing Web extends inwardly from each side wall partially across the container.

2. A multi-ply collapsible paper carton provided with fold lines defining side walls, closure flaps and an end attaching flap, and including outer ply sidewalls, and an integral outer end attaching flap portion, said outerside wall having integral foldableclosure flaps which closure flaps are defined by slits terminating in spaced relation to the fold line for the closure flaps, an

inner lining substantially coextensive with the outer side walls and the outer end attaching flap portion, and an intermediate ply coextensive only with the outer side walls and the outer end attaching flap portion and to which intermediate ply the outer side walls and outer end attaching flap portion and inner lining are adhesively secured, a foldable reinforcing and sealing flap integral with and extending from the outer end attaching flap portion which reinforcing and sealing flap is substantially equal in length with the closure flaps and defined therefrom by a slit terminating in spaced relation to its fold line, a continuous sealing web integral with the inner lining and spacedly overlapping portion of the closure flaps and the reinforcing and sealing web, the free marginal edge of said sealing web being adjacent the terminal ends of the slits between the respective closure flapsand the reinforcing and sealing flap and parallel to the fold line for the closure flaps and the reinforcing and sealing flap so that, when the closure flaps are folded upon each other, the sealing web extends inwardly from each side wall partially across the container, the reinforcing and sealing flap being disposed between two of the closure flaps.

' HENRY A. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,517,964 Drysdale Dec. 2, 1924 1,634,073 Labombarde June 28, 1927 1,912,698 Forsman June 6, 1933 1,987,647 Wellman Jan. 15, 1935 2,196,243 Bensel Apr. 9, 1940 2,251,361 Lockwood Aug. 5, 1941 

